The city’s biggest business group and a citizens organization supporting growth are among the groups supporting a planned highrise project in the city’s downtown.

As the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal hears arguments for and against Homestead Land Holdings’ plan to build two towers in the North Block, the Greater Kingston Chamber of Commerce and SPEAKingston have voiced support for the project.

“Kingston has experienced one of the lowest vacancy rates in Ontario in recent years as demand for residential housing has outstripped supply,” a news release from Karen Cross, executive director of the chamber of commerce, stated. “In order to position Kingston as the top destination in Ontario to live, work and do business, the chamber has and will continue to advocate in support of infrastructure projects that increase densification.”

The chamber supports development projects that areesthetically pleasing, respectful of the character of the area, likely to add to the vibrancy of the area, increase the availability of residential units, and likely to create a net positive economic impact.

“The North Block building projects would add to the vibrancy of the entire downtown through a mixed-use approach, including increased commercial space in addition to much-needed residential space,” the chamber release stated.

“The reduction in floor plate at higher levels, colours and materials will complement and add to the character of Kingston’s downtown,” the chamber release stated. “The short- and long-term positive economic benefits to the city, both direct and indirect, are obvious.”

The design that was accepted by the city late last summer included reduced heights and floor plates for both buildings and the addition of an art gallery as part of the podium of one of the buildings.

SPEAKingston, a collection of about 235 citizens and groups formed to promote “smart growth” in the city, also supports the project as a way to address Kingston’s record low rental vacancy rate of 0.6 per cent.

SPEAKingston has signed on as a participant at the LPAT tribunal.

Affordability and availability of housing are issues that the two towers couldhelp alleviate, SPEAKingston added.

“With 400 new units to be built, hundreds of jobs created and approximately $1M of increased annual tax revenue, SPEAKingston believes that the short- and long-term investment value of this development is substantial,” the organization stated in a news release.

If approved, the project would greatly improve walkability in the area and turn vacant lands into properties that contribute to the city’s housing stock and its tax base, the SPEAKIngston release stated.

The roughly 380 residential units would increase the number of people living in the city centre, within walking distance of major employers, the organization’s release added.

“This development will see the reclaiming of two brownfield sites in an area that SPEAKingston believes meets the spirit and intent of the City of Kingston’s extensive North Block study and official plan,” it stated.

The LPAT hearing about the development is scheduled for this week and next week.